Connectors

ABSTRACT

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector that eliminates a conductive portion that is free from mechanical contact at its coupling portion, and a pair of holders ( 8 ) ( 10 ) is provided with an interface unit ( 28 ) and cables ( 44 ) ( 46 ) extending outwardly are connected to one part of the interface unit ( 28 ), and radio wave-electric signal mutual converting elements ( 4 ) ( 6 ) built in the holders ( 8 ) ( 10 ) are connected to the other part of the interface unit. A pair of the holders ( 8 ) ( 10 ) is allowed to be coupled in proximity by means of a coupling means ( 12 ) made from a flexible electromagnetic field shielding material, and a radio wave propagation space ( 38 ) is formed at the coupling proximity portion of a pair of the holders ( 8 ) ( 10 ) which is shut out from the electromagnetic field of the outside. The radio wave-electric signal mutual converting elements ( 4 ) ( 6 ) of a pair of the holders ( 8 ) ( 10 ) conduct the reception and transmission of the radio wave mutually by being opposed in proximity by means of the radio wave propagation space ( 38 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to connectors for use in coupling avariety of electrical equipment and devices.

[0002] The conventional connectors are of general construction whereincables to be connected to a variety of electrical equipment and devicesare coupled by a contact of a conductor.

[0003] The conventional connectors having a conductive part to beenergized by a contact with a conductor tend to cause an oxidation andwear/and tear at its coupling portion, and moreover, are not strongenough against vibration which have been problems.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to solve the foregoingproblems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention is to provide a connector that eliminates aconductive portion to be energized by a mechanical contact at thecoupling portion and that has strong resistance to abrasion or vibrationand is superior in durability.

[0006] The present invention is constructed in such a way that a pair ofholders is provided with an interface, and a cable extending externallyis connected to one part of this interface, and a radio wave-electricalsignal mutually converting element built in the holder is connected tothe other part of the interface. The pair of the holders is constructedin such a way that the holders can couple with each other by approachingby means of a coupling means made from an electromagnetic fieldshielding material of a flexible type, and a radio wave propagationspace is formed at a coupling approaching portion of a pair of theholders which is shut out from an electromagnetic field of the outside.The radio wave-electric signal mutual converting elements of a pair ofthe holders perform reception and transmission of the radio wavemutually which are opposed to each other by means of the radio wavepropagation space.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 shows an explanatory drawing of a connector according tothe present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 shows a schematic drawing of a connector according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention will be described in detail in thefollowing by referring to attached drawings showing an embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0010] Numeral (2) denotes a connector, and the connector comprises apair of holders (8) (10) of cylindrical shape in which radiowave-electric signal mutual converting elements (4) (6) are built in,and a coupling means (12) made of electromagnetic field shieldingmaterial that couples said pair of the holders (8) (10) detachably. Theholders (8) (10) comprise a peripheral wall portion (14) made from theelectromagnetic field shielding material and side wall portions (16)(18), and the interior of the holders is shut out from theelectromagnetic field of the outside. In the interior of the holders (8)(10), a transmission microarray antenna (20), reception microarrayantenna (22), transmission signal processing unit (24), reception signalprocessing unit (26), interface unit (28), and feeding unit (30) arebuilt in by means of support fixtures made from an insulating material,and these units are made in chip form and are wired as shown in thedrawing which form radio wave-electric signal mutual converting elements(4) (6). On the side wall portions (18) (18) of the holders (8) (10)which are mutually and closely located, windows are formed, and on thewindows, the transmission microarray antenna (20) and the receptionmicroarray antenna (22) are disposed. Rings (32) (34) made fromelectromagnetic field shielding material such as flexible conductiveplastics and the like are fixed to each terminal of the holders (8)(10). Numeral (36) denotes a tubular coupling cap, and is made from theelectromagnetic field shielding material such as flexible conductiveplastics and the like. The coupling cap (36) can be pressed onto anexternal peripheral surface of the ring (32) or (34) with its one innerperipheral surface, and furthermore, the external peripheral surface ofthe ring (32) or (34) is arranged to be pressed onto the other externalperipheral surface of the cap (36). The rings (32) (34) and the couplingcap (36) constitute the coupling means (12) for proximity coupling ofthe holders (8) (10) detachably. In case of coupling the holders (8) and(10), first of all, one of the coupling cap (36) is pressed into thering (32), and then, the ring (34) is pressed into the other cap (36).On the rings (32) (34) of the coupling cap (36), screw type concave andconvex portions are formed so that they do seldom easily disengaged whenthe fitting is carried out. When the holders (8) (10) are coupled withthe coupling cap (36), an extremely thin disklike closed radio wavepropagation space (38) is formed which is surrounded by the side wallportions (18) (18) of the holders (8) (10). When the holders (8) (10)are coupled, the transmission and reception microarray antennas (20)(22) at the side of the holder (8) are opposed to the transmission andreception microarray antennas (20) (22) at the side of the holder (10)with a small distance. On the side wall portions (16) (16) of eachholder (8) (10), terminals (40) (42) connected to the interface unit(28) are mounted, and the terminals (40) (42) are connected to aninput/output unit of an electrical equipment (48) to be coupled by meansof the cables (44) (46).

[0011] In the foregoing construction, the electric signal of theelectrical equipment (48) inputted to the interface unit (28) in theholder (8) through the cable (44) is processed by the transmissionsignal processing unit (24), and the signal is transmitted as themicrowave or miliwave from the transmission microarray antenna (20). Theradio wave transmitted from the transmission microarray antenna (20) isreceived at the reception microarray antenna (22) in the proximityopposed holder (10), and is processed in the reception signal processingunit (26) connected to the antenna, and is transmitted to the electricalequipment connected to the cable (46) from the interface unit (28). Theprocessing units (24) (26) conduct a multipath fusing processing of theradio wave, and conducts error processing and format conversion andchannel extraction filtering and the like.

[0012] The present invention has no conductive portion at the couplingportion of the connector as explained in the aforementioned which makesa contact so that oxidation and wear and tear of the coupling portioncan be prevented, and furthermore, it can be used near permanently as itis strong against vibration of the coupling portion. Still furthermore,as the coupling portion is shielded from the radio wave of the outside,it is strong against noise and yet it consumes only low level ofelectric power which are effects of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A connector comprises an interface unit and apair of holders with built-in radio wave-electric signal mutualconverting elements connected to the interface unit by means of thecable, wherein a pair of the holders is allowed to be coupled inproximity by means of a coupling means made from electromagnetic fieldshielding material, and a radio wave propagation space is formed at thecoupling proximity portion of a pair of the holders which is shut out ofthe electromagnetic field of the outside, and radio wave-electric signalmutual converting elements of a pair of the holders are arranged to beopposed in proximity by means of the radio wave propagation space.
 2. Aconnector according to the claim 1 wherein the coupling means is formedfrom a flexible electromagnetic field shielding material.